Roller skate



March 4, 1930.

P. N. JOSLIN ROLLER SKATE Filed Oct. 8,1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1521/$77757 JIZ. Joslrz/ Mam}! 1930 P. N. JOSLIN j 1,749,139

ROLLER SKATE Filed Oct. 8, 19'21 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented- Mar; 4,.1930

UNITED STA 1mm! 1v. .rosnm, or :on ma, runners ROLLER SKATE eApplication filed October 8, 1927. Serial No 224,879.

My invention relates to roller skates, and among the objects thereof areto provide a construction which will permit a max1mum range ofadjustment between short and long sizes or lengths to fit the shoes ofdlflerent skaters; to provide a skate of rigid and durable constructionwhich may be economically produced in quantities; to provide'a novelconstruction in which the heel plate and shank girder, as-well as therear flange of the heel plate are made in one piece, thereby permlttingthe same to be stamped in a single blank with a cutting die and formedinto proper shape in a simplemanner to give extraordinary strength andresistance to sag or looseness at the shank; to provide a shank girderof inverted channel or U-shaped cross-section soas to present a muchneater and finished appearance and give better bracing effect as well asprevent-exposure of the edgesof the shank; to provide novel trusssupports and truck hangers for the front and rear or heel and toe orfoot plates and wheels thereof, which from the same stamping and formingdies for either rigid or oscillating cushion trucks for the Wheels, thuseconomizing in manufacturing costs; to so construct the front hangers asto frictionally receive the shank girder for sliding adjustment betweenthe same and v the toe plate, as well as to avoid lay thereberween,andito provide means or rigidly clamping said parts together, wherebythey will positively remain fixed in any adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood byreference to the following specification when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofone form of skate construction in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the section line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a heel plate with integral rear flangeand shank girder.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the truck hangers, modified foruse in conjuncmay be produced from novel blanks formed tion with the toeplate of the skate and to receive and brace the shank girder.

Flg. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which the truck hanger shown inFigure 4 is formed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section of anotherform of skate constructed in accordance with the invention and employingoscillating cushion trucks adapted to permit of the cushioning of thewheels and the tilting of the trucks transversely of the skate.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the combined heel plate, rearflange, and shank girder with the latter broken away.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the section line 8-8 ofFigure 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the section line 99 of Figure 6.

. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a truss hanger empoyed in theconstruction shown in Figure Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the truckhanger shown in Figure 10, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a blank from which the truck hanger shown inFigures 10 and 11 is roduced. eferring to the drawings in detail andespecially to the construct-ions shown in Fi ures 1 to 5 inclusive inwhich the skate is illustrated as being of that type havin rigid truckhangers, 13 designates the hee plate 'which isproduced from a singleblank of metal stamped from a sheet so as to produce a combined heelplate, rear flange, and shank girder, the rear flange being designatedat 14 and the shank girder at 15. The heel plate 13 has its side edgesturned downwardly to produce stiffening flanges 16 and the rear flange14 is bent upwardly with a slight rearward inclination and is curved toconform to the rear edgeof the plate 13 and the heel whichit is adaptedto-fit. The roesult is a flange of concavo-convex formation;

with a convex top edge 17 and frontedge f 18 which are convexly'roundedoand slopedownwardly and rearwardly to doubled lower sideportions 19 below the plane of the heel-plate 13 and which approach theplane. of the plate in an upward curve rearwardly at each side. a

so as to reinforce and sti doubled portions 19, ,as before stated,depend below the plane of the heel plate 13 with resultant insidedepressions or grooves 20 which form continuations of the depending sideflangeslfi of the heel plate,.

with the shank girder 15, at which point the f shank 'rder is slii tlydepressed to bring it in a p ane beneat the toe plate 22 of the skate.The flanges 16 are continued along the sides of the shank girder 15 asindicated at 23, besides the flanges being preferably verticallydisposed in parallel relation to each other so as to form a member whichis narrower thanthe heel plate and of substantially inverted channel orU-shaped crosssection. The shank girder. 15 has a longitudinal slot 24centrally of its top portion extending the greater portion of the lengththereof equi-distantly between. the sides and terminating in spacedrelation to the depressed portion 21 at its juncture with its heel plateand the forward extremity. The rear flange is provided with inclinedslots 25 adapted to take a strap or strap sections 26 for tightening theskate around the ankle of the skater. The toe plate 22 is equipped withthe usual toe clamps27 slidably mounted beneath the toe plate foradjustment toward and away from each other by means of an adjustingscrew 28, as commonly employed. Both the heel and toe plates areprovided with. op-

posed pairs of spaced slots 29 preferably disposed equi-distantly apartand parallel toeach other, four in number being preferably employed oneach plate and those of the toe plate being preferably located nearerthe rear end thereof than its forward end to which the toe clamps 27 arefastened.

This type of skate is-equipped with 171g1d truck hangers 30, which areof like construction at both front and rear except for slightvmodification of the front truck hanger for co-operation with the shankgirder 15 for permitting adjustment .of the length of the skate, as willbe hereinafter more particularly pointed out. These modificationsconsist in treatment of the blank as'additio'nal" operations to thoserequired for the stamping and formation of the rear hanger. There fore,both hangers are of the same orjduplicate construction and may beproduced} by thesame. stamping and forming dies.

As shownmore particularly in Figures 4.

and'5, these truck hangers are p'i oducedfrom a blank having anintermediate-"portion:31:' with side extensions 32 turnedtof proylde(strap sections or axle receiv ngportio'nsof;

substantial tubular formation shown in-Fi ure 4, the intermediate,portion;'of, the.

vthe bottom of the heel and toe plates 3O produced'by p the extensions ace'ntral intermediateportion47' of the part being stifl'enedlongitudinally with bentnb 33 which, however, termmates short of theinner ends of each hanger, as designated at 34. The blank is alsoprovided with side ceiving or transverse bi ht portion 32 is .formed andthe interme 'ate parts 37 and 38 are bent upwardly at obtuse angles toeach other slightly greater than a right angle. By this means, therecessed edges 39 of the side extensions 35 and 36 are brought togethervertically above the axle-receiving portion 32, and the edges 40 whichengage are provided with reduced extensions or lug-rivets 41 which arereceived in the slots 29 and upset to securely fasten the truck hangersin position.

The front and rear truck hangers are of similar construction so far asdescribed, but they are disposed in reversed positions with the lon estinclined portions produced by the fol ing lines 42 between the portions35 and 37 disposed innermost as compared to the folding lines 43 betweenthe portions 36 and 38 WhlCll are disposed toward the ends of the skate.Each truck hanger receives a pin or axle 44in its axle-receiving portionor strap section 32 in which the axle is clamped in pos1tionand wheels45 are journaled on the axles.

The shank girder 15 extends between the sides of the front truck hanger,these sides being parallel and substantially U-shaped cross section asdisclosed more particularly in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, thepurpose of which is to permit adjustment of the length of the skate thetruck; hanger beingof by sliding the toe plate and its hanger with bracethe connection between the shank girder and the toe plate and fronttruck hanger, the latter is provided withshoulders 46 facing upwardly onthe inside to engage the bottom ed es of the flanges 23. These shouldersare s iown in the form of indented portions or lugs produced in the sideexten sions 35 to tight-ly friction against the bottom edgesof theflanges 23 but with suflicient ;looseness to'permit sliding adjustmentof the shank. girderv in the front truck hanger.

i The -flanges' 23" also fit, against .the inner faces of'the sidewallsof the truck hangers 35 and 36 and 37v is slit as at '48 and turnedup toengage the bottom face of the shank gir er 15' to addi ,of the rearflange 14 and, of course,

. unease which are only provided on the front hanger.

and that these parts may be otherwise stam ed and shaped from the samestamping and orming dies. 7

In the form shown in Fi res 6 to 12 inclusive, the construction is ientical with the construction previously described except that the strap51 is shown encircling the gacg ot straps 26 and 51 have the usualbuckle, known in the art. In lieu of the truck hangers 30,

- sc -truck; hangers 52 are provided, the same be- *'stamped from asingle blank to provide an intermediate axle mounting or transversebight portion 53 with dependin ends 54 and having" side extensions 55ranching from the side edges of the intermediate part 53 and enlargedoutwardly. These portions 55 are disposed in divergent relation so thatwhen they are bent up at right angles they are disposed parallel withthe top edges 56 horizontal. These edges have correspondingly reducedportions or lug rivets 57 which are passed through the slots 29 andupset.

The sides 55 are also oflset outwardly along lines parallel to the edges56 as shown at 58 to provide stiffening means as well as to formshoulders facing upwardly at the inside as at 59. These shoulders aredesigned to receive the bottom edges of the flanges 23 tions 65,

' as not to give at connected by the cushion tread type.

of the shank girder in frictional contact therewith as seen moreparticularly in Figures 6 and 8 so as to brace the parts when bolt 49,as previously described. The portions 54 are apertured as at- 60 andreceive therebetween the usual oscillating cushion truck supports 61which have rubber inserts 62 and the portions 54 are connected by pins63 to corresponding apertured upturned portions of strap secthisconstruction being such as to permit cushioning of the wheels andtilting of the trucks transversely of the skate.

The axles 64 are mounted in the strap sections or axle receivingportions 65 and take the wheels 66, which ma be of metal or front andrear truck girders may be produced from the same dies, although ifdesired the front truck may have its sides more widely spaced apart, butthis is not essential. In each case a skate of pleasing appearance isprovided which is very strong and rigid and effectively embracedintermediately so the joint or shank portion where the shank girder andtoe plate connect.

While I have shown several means of acpending side portions being uniteIn this construction the.

complishin the objects of the invention, it is to be un erstood thatother forms may be provided and that modifications may be resorted to inthe construction and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from thespirit of my invention so long'a's the same do not depart from the scopeof the device as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a roller skate, a heel plate having an integral shank girder, anda toe plate, the shank girder extending under the toe plate from therear end of the latter, and said rear end being located within thelength of the girder. 7

2. In a roller skate, a heel plate having an.

integral shank girder and an integral rear. V

flange, a toe plate positioned in the plane of the heel plate, above theshank girder and terminating above the same, the shank girder beingadjustably secured to the toe plate,

,and means bracing said shank girder against the bottom of said toeplate.

3. A roller skate comprising a heel plate having an integral. forwardlyextending shank girder with down-turned side flanges and a rear flangeall formed from a single blank, an attachment means attached to the rearflange, a toe plate entirely over and' adjustably connected to the shankgirder with its rear end positioned over the shank girder, said shankgirder extending under the toe plate from the rear end thereof and beingadjustably clamped to the toe plate, truck hangers carried by the heeland toe plates, and rollers journaled in said hangers.

4. A skate comprising a heel plate having a rear flange, depending sideflanges and a shank girder extending forwardly therefrom and havingdepending side flanges formed as a continuation of the side flanges ofthe heel plate, said parts being formed from a single blank pressed intoshape, a toe plate adjustable longitudinally on and entirely over theshank girder, attachment means on the rear flange and toe plate, andtraction means carried by the heel and toe plates.

7 5. In a skate, a heel plate having a rear flange with side portionsdepending below said plate and depending side flan es, said d'ej to theside flanges, a shank extending forwardly from the heel plate and formedintegral therewith, said shank having side flanges continuing from theside flanges of the heel plate to the forward end of the shank, all ofsaid parts being formed from a single blank.

6. Ina skate, a heel plate having depending side flanges, a rear flangewith side portions extending below said plate, doubled and joining saidside flanges, a shank extending forwardly from the ,eel plate and formedintegral therewith, said shank having side flanges continuing from theflanges of the heel plate,and having a longitudinal slot, a

' j usted toe late, fastenni means near the rear end oft e toe plate anslidabl fittin in the slot to clamp the toe plate in ongitu inallyadosition on .the shank, attaching means carrie by the rear flange andtoe plate, and hangers carried by the heel and toe plates.

' v 7 In a skate, a heel plate having depending side flan es, a rearflange with side portions depen ing below said plate, said dependingside ortions being doubled and joining the side anges on the heel plate,a shank extending forwardly from the heel plate and formed integraltherewith, said shank having side flanges continuing from the flanges ofthe heel late and havinga longitudinal slot, a toe ate, fastening meansnear the rear end of t e toe plate and slidably fitting in the slot toclamp the toe plate in longitudinally adjusted position on the shank,truck hangers attached to the heel and toe plates and having tractionmeans, the hanger of the toe platehaving u wardly facing'side shouldersengaging-the anges of the shank. to brace the shank in frictionalsliding engagement with the toe plate. u

8. In a skate, a heel plate having depending side flanges, a rear flangewith side portions depending below said plate, said depending sideportions being doubled 'and joining the side flanges on the heel late, ashank extending forwardly from t e heel plate and formed integraltherewith, said shank having side flanges continuing from the flanges ofthe heel plate and having a longitudinal slot, a toe plate, fasteninmeans near the rear end of the toe plate and slidably fitting in theslot to clamp the toe plate in longitudinally adjusted position on theshank, combined truss supports and truck hangers carried by the heel andtoe plates, said hangers being of substantially U-shaped 'cross sectionand having axle mounting portions, axles mounted therein, and wheels onsaid axles, and one of said hangers having side shoulders engaging theside flanges of the shanks.

' 9. In a skate, a heel plate having depending side-flanges, a rearflange with'side portions depending below said plate, said dependingside portions bein doubled and joining the side flanges on the eel late,a shank extending forwardly fromthe eel plate and formed integraltherewith, said shank having side flanges continuing from the flanges ofthe heel plate and havinga longitudinal slot, a

toe late, fastening means near the rear end of t e toe plate andslidably fitting inthe slot to clamp the toe plate in longitudinallyadjusted position on the shank, combined truss supports and truckhangers carried by the heel and toe plates, said hangers being ofsubstantially U-shaped cross section, each including an integrallyformed bottom portion and side portions secured to the respective heeland toe plates, the toe plate re- ,ceiving the shank thereunder and thefront hanger having upwardly facing side shoulders engaging the bottomedges of the flanges of the shank to brace the same against the toeplate when adjusted.

10. In a skate, a heel plate having depending side flanges, a rearflange withside portions depending below said "plate, said de pendingside portions being doubled and joining theside flanges on the heellate, a shank extending forwardly from the formed integral therewith,said shank having side flanges continuing from the flanges of the heelplate and having a longitudinal slot, a toe plate, fastening means nearthe rear end of the toe plate and slidably fitting in the slot to clampthe toe plate in longitudinally adjusted position on the shank, combinedtruss. supports and truck hangers carried by the heel and toe plates,said hangers being of substantially U-shaped cross section, each eelplate and a including an integrally formed bottom portion and side tiveheel and ing the shank er having u side flanges, attachment means and aforwardly extending shank girder with depending side flanges throughoutthe length thereof, a foot plate adjustablyvcpnnected to the shankgirder, andtruck hangers attached to said plates and dependingtherefrom.

12. Ina roller skate, a heel plate having side flanges, attachment meansand a forwardly extending shank girder with depending side flangesthroughout the length thereof, a foot plate adjustably connected to theshank girder, truck hangers attached to saidplates and dependingtherefrom, said truck hangers being each stamped from alsingle blankwith angularly extending side portions having divergent edges and havingaxle-receiving-portions,-axles mounted therein, and wheels onsaid'axles.

' 13. Ina roller skate, a heel plate having side flanges, attachmentmeans and a for wardly extending shank'girder with depend ing sideflanges throughout the length there- 'of, a foot plate adjustablyconuected to the shank girder, truck hangers attached to said plates anddepending therefrom, said truck hangers being each stamped from a singleblank with angularly extending side portions having divergent edges, thefront hanger having inwardly offset portions spaced from the top edgesthereof and the foot plate to engage the bottom edges of the flanges ofthe shank girder and brace the same against the tions depending belowsaid plate, and de bottom face of the foot plate. pending side flanges,said depending side por- 14. In a roller skate, a heel plate havingtions being united to said side flanges. side flanges, attachment meansand a for- I PLINY N. JOSLIN. 5 wardly extendin shank girder withdepend- 70 ing side flanges t roughout the length thereof, a foot plateadjustably connected to the shank girder, truck hangers attached to saidplates and depending therefrom, said truck hangers being each stampedfrom a single 75 blank with angularly extending'side portions havingdivergent edges, the front hanger have ing inwardly ofiset portionsspaced from the topedges thereof and the foot plate to engage the bottomedges of the flanges of the shank I girder and brace the same againstthe bottom face 'of the foot plate, and means carried by the said hangerto engage the intermediate portion of the shank girder below the foot 20plate.

15. A roller skate having a foot plate, a heel plate with an integralshank slidably connected to the foot plate and having depending sideflanges, and hangers carried by u said plates and depending therefrom,said 4 r ee hangers each formed of a single blank sheet metal shaped toprovide side portions with shoulders facing upwardl in engagement withthe bottom edges 0 the side flanges so of the shank and intermediateconnecting 06 portions at the bottom.

16. A roller skate having a foot plate, a a heel plate with an integralshank slidably connected to the foot plate, said shank havin sideflanges and hangers carried by sai 1 plates and depending therefrom,said hangers each formed of a single blank of sheet metal shaped toprovide side'portions and intermediate connecting portions at the bottom4 and the front hanger having shoulders spaced 105 from the foot plateand parallel thereto to v engage the bottom edges of the shank flangesandattachment means carried bytheheel and y, oot plates.

17. A roller skate having a foot plate, a s no 7 heel plate with anintegral shank slidably H conneeted to the foot plate, said shank havingside flanges, and hangers carried by said plates and dependingtherefrom, said hangers each formed of a single blank of sheet metal 118sha ed to provide side portions and interme iate connecting portions atthe bottom and the front hanger having shoulders spaced I from the footplate and parallel thereto to c 3 en age the bottom ed es 0 the shankflandges,

an an upwardly an rearwardly exten mg flange at the rear of the heelplate having downwardly curved front side flportions doubled to formdepending side anges on the sides of the heel plate, and said sldeflanges terminatin in said shank side flanges, the latter constitutingcontinuations of said heel 1' plate side flanges. v 18. In a skate, aheeltplate having an upardly extending rear ange with side porlee

